It is the rare designer who can make noteworthy works from rattan and plywood—not to mention Formica and plastic. French Modernist Joseph André Motte did just that as a young, postwar designer, making use of mass production and affordable materials to wondrous effects. In his first solo exhibition in the United States, Demisch Danant gallery highlights Motte’s versatility by presenting his work in two environments. In the first section, above left, his pieces from the 1940s and ‘50s, such as the sinuous rattan Sabre chair, illustrate his ability to put a contemporary spin on traditional materials. In a second configuration, below left, the shapes are still modern but now the materials are too—opaline glass side tables, a vinyl bed, and a lacquered wood coffee table hold court. While the exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, gallery-goers will note that Motte’s furnishings would look equally at home in 21st-century interiors.